Bark peeler having pivoted jaws spread by fluid pressure



Dec. 8, 1953 R. E. BURTON BARK PEELER HAVING PIVOTED JAWS SPREAD BY FLUID PRESSURE lled Aprll 1, 1952 U fm Il R. w Q mlmH-HH. m S NN Mvg mf mv%\ www l MM.. A@ w wh lll .l k\ N\ WN rl Nl 1.. DM v L Il T I l ww mi- Fr lllllllll lr ww Q \f\\ ww ww I.. @Ik mq QQ Y Q B Patented Dec. 8, 1953 BARK PEELER HAVING PIV OTED JAWS SPREAD BY FLUID PRESSURE Robert E. Burton, Willits, Calif. Application April 1, 1952, Serial N o. 279,838 3 Claims. (Cl. 1114-208) This invention relates to devices for peeling logs and particularly to devices of this type which are portable and which are adapted to be used by a single operator at the place where the tree is felled.

In the past it has been the general custom to fell a tree and then transport the same to a mill. The debarking process may take place where the tree falls, where the logs are loaded onto trucks or at the mill, andmay be carried out in one of several ways. For example, debarking may be done manually by the use of peeling bars or it may be done mechanically in any one of several well known ways; as illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 190,549, led October 17, 1950, now Patent No. 2,611,401, dated September 23, 1952.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a manually operated portable bark peeler which may be utilized either at the mill or in the Woods, and which will operate in a satisfactory manner for brous barked species such as redwood.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device of this kind which is adapted to be operated by compressed air or hydraulic fluid pressure.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device of this character which is readily controlled and which reduces physical labor to a minimum and which will work with large, irregular logs which are diicult to rotate or feed by conventional machines.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents a top view of my debarking device;

Figure 2 represents a side elevational View of the device in Figure l with the jaws of the device in closed position;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the device illustrated in Figure 2 with the jaws in open position; and

Figure 4 shows a modification of the device illustrated in Figures l, 2 and 3.

As illustrated in Figure 1, my device consists of a pair of members I Il and I I which are pivoted generally at I2. The forward ends I3 and I4 respectively of the two members I and I I operate one above the other and provide surfaces I6 and I'I which, as viewed in Figure 2, form a single planar pointed surface which is adapted to be urged between the wood and the bark,

The member II is rigidly secured to a frame portion I 8 as by means of bolts I9. Frame I8 `is in the form oi a cylinder 2I and is provided with a reciprocating piston 22 and rod 23 which extends through one end 24 of the cylinder 2|. Member 26 is secured to the rod 23 and forms a support for two pairs of rollers 2l and 28. Rollers 28 engage the upper or inner surface IIa of the member I I and rollers 2l' engage the lower or inner surface Ia of the member I0 with the result that when the rod 23 is reciprocated, the members I@ and 5I are urged apart about the pivot I2 with the result that the ends or jaws I 3 and I 4 are separated.

The means for actuating the piston 22 consists of a source of fluid such as air under pressure which is controlled by a valve 3|. An operator, by lever 32, may selectively introduce air through a conduit 33 into one end of the cylinder 2I to urge the jaws I3 and I4 apart (see Figure 3) or through the conduit 34 into the other end of the cylinder 2I to cause the member 26 to be returned to the position generally illustrated in Figure 2. A spring 3B serves to draw the members I0 and II together.

A pair of handles 31 and 3B provide means by which the operator may hold the device.

Operation of the device may briefly be described as follows: Let it be assumed that the apparatus is connected to a suitable source of air under pressure through a flexible hose Ill so that the device may be readily moved from one position to another. The operator, by gripping the handles 31' and 38 may urge the closed jaws I3 and I4 into position between the wood and the bark While the jaws I3 and I4 are closed as shown in Figure 2. By operating the hand lever 32 the operator may introduce air into the upper end of the cylinder 2| with the result that the piston 22 will be advanced and the jaws I3 and I. spread to the position illustrated in Figure 3. The bark and the wood will then be separated. The operator may then actuate the lever 32 in such a manner that air from the upper end of the cylinder is vented and air is introduced into the lower end of the cylinder to return the member 26 to the position illustrated in Figure 2. The spring 36'will draw the members I Il and II together or to the position illustrated in Figure 2. Subsequent operations will be the same.

It is apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a simplified device for removing the bark from logs.

The construction of the members I and and the jaws I3 and II I4 is thought to be unique.

The member I is preferably in the form of a flat strip of material and, as illustrated, may be provided with a web portion d2 which lends strength to the entire construction. The mem- In the modification illustrated in Figure 4, the

piston I8 and the ram 23 have been eliminated by the use of a piston 43 and a ram #i4-'which is positioned as indicated for the purpose of separating and drawing together the members I0 and II. The use of valve 45 for the purpose of controlling the piston 43 is identical with the use of the valve 3l for the purpose of controlling the piston I3. Operation of the deviceis the same as has been described in connectionv with the device: illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

I: claim:

l'. In a debarking device, a pair of controlling levers pivoted to form a pair of jaws adapted to be inserted-between the bark and the Wood, means for separating said jaws including a uid ram positioned between the controlling levers of said jaws, and means for controlling said ram inmaximum cluding a valve to control the supply of fluid under pressure to said ram.

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of flat levers twisted about their longitudinal axes to form cooperating vertical faces and twisted a further 90 about said axes to form cooperating opposed jaws, a pin through said members at the point of said vertical faces forming a pivot about whichsaidfjaws may bef-moved, afiuid ram secured to one of saidleversl'to urge said jaws out of engagement and means for controlling the operation of said ram comprising a valveeand a sourceof fluid under pressure.

In a device of the character described, a pair of flat levers twisted about their longitudinal'axes to form cooperating vertical faces and further twisted about said axes to form cooperating opposed jaws, a pin through said members at thepoint of said vertical faces forming a pivot about which said jaws may be moved, a uid ram mounted upon one of said levers to urge said jaws'into andv out ofv engagement and means for' controlling the operation of said ram compriseing a-vvalve and a source-of Vuid under pressure;

ROBERT E. BURTON.

References` cited in the fue of this patent UNITED sTATEs PATENTS Number Name Date 459,818 Pearson et al Sept. 22, 1891 2,114,531Y Harvey u Apr. 19', 19381 2,596,453 Weidel May 13, 1952 

